> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.fetchhive.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Backlinks Search

> Configure a workflow step that lists backlinks pointing to a domain or page

Use **Backlinks Search** when you want a workflow step to list the backlinks pointing at a domain, subdomain, or page, then pass those links into later workflow steps.

## Configuration

| Option | Required | Description |
| - | - | - |
| Name | No | Label for the step in the workflow canvas. |
| Target | Yes | A domain or subdomain without `https://` or `www.`, or a full page URL starting with `https://`. This field supports workflow variables through **Insert Variable**. |
| Link status | No | **Live** returns links found on the last check. **Lost** returns links that were removed. **All** returns both. |
| Group results | No | **All backlinks**, **One per referring domain**, or **One per anchor text**. |
| Include subdomains | No | When on, subdomains of the target are included. On by default. |
| Exclude internal backlinks | No | When on, links from the target's own subdomains are left out. On by default. |
| Rank scale | No | **0–1000** or **0–100**. This scale applies to rank, referring page rank, and referring domain rank. |
| Filters | No | Up to 8 filter rows joined by **AND** or **OR**. |
| Sort by | No | Up to 3 sort rules. Leave empty to use the provider's default order. |
| Number of results | No | How many backlinks to return, from 1 to 1000. Defaults to 25. Cost grows with the number of rows returned. |
| Offset | No | Skip this many backlinks before returning results. The maximum offset is 20,000. |
| When the step fails | No | Controls whether the workflow should **Terminate Workflow** or **Continue** if this step fails. |

Add this step from the **Research** group in **Search steps...**.

A value with no scheme, such as `example.com`, is sent as a domain. `www.` is removed. A URL with a real path, such as `https://example.com/blog/post`, is sent as a page. `https://example.com/` is treated as the domain `example.com`. A path without `https://`, such as `example.com/blog`, is rejected.

## Output

Click **Run** in the step header to test the step. Fetch Hive shows the matching backlinks in **Output** after the run completes.

Use the variable picker in a later step to insert the exact output path available for that run. The base reference is:

```text theme={null}
{{STEP_IDENTIFIER.output}}
```

The output includes `total_count`, `items_count`, and an `items` array. Each item includes the referring page, the target URL, anchor text, rank, whether the link is dofollow, and when it was first seen. To use the first referring URL:

```text theme={null}
{{step_2.output.items[0].url_from}}
```

If a referring page contains more than one link to the target, only the highest-rank link is returned. `links_count` is the number of matching links on that page.

## Example

Add **Backlinks Search** from the **Research** group in **Search steps...**.

Set **Name** to something like `Homepage backlinks`.

Enter `example.com` in **Target**, or insert a variable that resolves to a domain or page URL. Leave **Link status** on **Live**, set **Number of results** to a small number, then click **Run** and review the links in **Output** before using them in a later step.

## Cost

Hosted runs convert the recorded service cost plus a 6% service fee into task credits. The provider charge grows with the number of backlinks returned. See [Task costs](../../../resources/task-costs).

## Notes

* A run returns at most 1000 backlinks. Offset can skip up to 20,000 earlier rows.
* If the provider rejects the target or a filter, the step fails and the error message is the provider's message. **When the step fails** then decides whether the workflow stops or continues.
* Personal model keys are not used. This step always runs as a hosted provider call.


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